Hens and Chickens, of course, and sedums, too. Daylilies and Hostas for sure. There are really so many, but it's fun to stretch your limits and find a microclimate in your yard to grow the unusual.

One winter, my husband and I were in central Finland, and I have never known a winter like it!!! Brrrrrrr! But come spring, the roadsides were lined with wild beautiful lupines. I will never forget how incredibly beautiful it was, and my awe at realizing how tough these gorgeous plants are! I have a bunch in my garden now, though! :)
Lexi

Yes, lupines have the constitution of a musk ox. Along with all those above, I will add that I can always count on my Dicentra spectabilis come spring. What would a spring be w/o those little hearts?

Violets, mallows, black-eyed-susans, chocolate mint, daylilies, iris...

Daylilies, hostas, dianthis, rodies, wild violets, chives, garlic chives, columbine, sedum, new england aster, lanceleaf coreopsis.
All of these have been coming back for me for 25 years, even after that horrible winter we had a few years ago. Remember the one with just about no snow for winter protection and below zero temps almost all of January. These all came back and bloomed beautifully without any problem.

Ferns (Osmundas!)
Peonies
Aconitum
Hostas
Iris sibirica
Narcissus
Epimedium
Dicentra spectabilis

Threadleaf Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' has yet to ever die.